Air conditioned display counter



Dec. 1940- I K. w. HALL 2,223,762

AIR CONDITIONED DISPLAY COUNTER Filed July 1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet lkc/r/l W Ha ATTORNEYS Dec. 3, 1 940.

K. w. HALL AIR CONDITIONED DISPLAY COUNTER Filed July 1, 1958 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Ks/ih 14/ #0 V INVENTOR I %MM a x 4 8 o. a a 4 l 4 2 i i7 2 l 2 4 7 l 1 v 11 11 1 1 1 1 11 1111 1 11 11 11 11 1 1 1 11 11 11 111 11 11 11 11 7 11 1 1 1 11 11 1 11 1 11 11 0 1 11 11 1 11 11 11 11 11 11 1 71 1 11 1 11 1 I. I i F a 8M 6 8 v 5 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 3, 1940UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Tolco, Inc., Toledo, v Ohio Ohio, acorporation of Application July 1, 1938, Serial No. 217,103

2Claims. The invention relates to an air conditioned display countersuitable for use in retail stores for displaying fruit, vegetables,baked goods,

cigars, and other products for which air conditioning is desirable. I

The principal object of the invention is to provide a highly effectivesystem for conducting and distributing the air in an air conditioneddisplay counter. More specific objects and advantages are apparent fromthe descriptioni in which reference is had to the accompanying drawingsillustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. I of the drawings is a perspective of a counter embodying theinvention, with portions broken away to show the interior construction.

Fig. II is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 11-11 ofFig. I.

Fig. III is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line III-III ofFig. I.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line IV-IV ofFig. II.

Fig. V is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line V--V ofFig. IV.

These specific drawings and the specific description that follows merelydisclose and illustrate the invention and are not intended to imposelimitations upon the claims.

Many products, such as fruit, vegetables, and baked goods, keep best inconditioned air that has a high relative humidity and a low temperature.When such air is supplied to a display compartment in a counter, it isdifllcult to prevent the temperature of the air from rising rapidly asit flows into the compartment. A small increase in the temperature ofthe air, occurring as the air enters the display compartment, causes aconsiderable reduction in its relative humidity. In accordance with theinvention, a display counter may be constructed to prevent theconditioned air from incurring a material rise in temperature as itflows into the display compart distribution passage. supplyingconditioned air to the chamber and to the space between the floor andthe false bottom of the-compartment. After passing up through the falsebottom of the compartment, the air flows among the products restingthereon,- The conditioned air is supplied to the chamber below theimpervious floor for 55 the purpose of preventing the air flowingthrough the space between the false bottom and the floor from beingwarmedby conduction of heat up through the floor. This arran ement ismuch more effective in accomplishing t at purpose than heavy, bulkyinsulation of the compartment floor 5' would be.

The drawings show a counter suitable for displaying iruit andvegetables. It is made up of several identical sections, each containingtwo superimposed display compartments, and any dc}- l0 sired number ofsections may be employed. Fig. I shows a complete section and a portionof each of the two adjacent sections.

Although the drawings, for the sake of simplicity, show a counter madeup of identical 15 sections, the sections in a counter embodying theinvention do not all need to be of a similar type. For example, any oneof the sections of the counter may be so constructed that it serves as awrapping or weighing table instead of a display more space for theapparatus than a display section.

Located in the middle section of Fig. I is an air conditioning apparatusthat supplies conditioned air through a supply duct 1. A blower 8 drivenby a motor 9 supplies air to the ap& 80

paratus 6.

The main supporting members of each section are its two side panels Ill,which rest upon the floor of the room and are tied together at the frontby means of a reinforcing bar II. The rear wall 12 of each section issecured to the side panels I 0, and has its lower edge turned inward toform a flange I3. Resting .upon the flange l3 and the reinforcing bar His a plate I4 closing the bottom of the section. In the middle sectionof Fig. I the plate I 4 is omitted so that the apparatus which suppliesthe air may be mounted directly upon the floor.

Upon the plate l4 may be placed baskets containing a reserve supply ofproduce to be displayed. The masses of produce in the displaycompartments become depleted as the produce is sold, and it is desirableto have the reserve supply of produce handy so that an attractivemassive display can be maintained by continuously replenishing. thedisplay compartments.

In front of the baskets stored in the lower portion' of the sectionis aremovable front panel [5. Conditioned air to protect the produce storedin the lower portion of the section is suppliedfroim a duct section |6forming part of the main duct for conditioned air. The air supplied tothe lower portion of the section flows through perforations IT in thebottom of the duct section I6. (See Fig. II.) v In the rear edge of eachof the side panels I0 is cut a rectangular opening or notch I8 throughwhich may escape the air that is displaced from the lower portion of thesection by the entering conditioned air. Secured to the rear wall |2 ofeach section by means of screws I9 is a drain trough that extends fromsection to section through the rectangular openings l8, and leads to asuitable drain connection.

Above the rectangular opening or notch I8 in each side panel i0 is alarger rectangular opening that permits the duct sections Hi to connectwith one another. Fig. V shows how the duct sections are connected toform a single continuous duct. Each of the duct sections MS hasoutwardly turned flanges 2| surrounding its ends. Telescoping within theadjacent ends of the duct sections is a connecting sleeve 22. A rubbergasket 23 surrounding the connecting sleeve 22 is compressed and sealsthe connection when the ends of the two adjacent duct sections arepressed together by means of connecting bolts 24.

At the front of the sections the two adjacent side panels H! are heldapart by means of channel-shaped spacers 25. Secured to the spacers 25by means of screws 26 are decorative strips 21 that conceal the edges ofthe side panels H]. The lower end of each decorative strip 21 extendsdown to the fioor and covers the space between the adjacent ends of thetwo reinforcing bars I (SeeFig. I.)

The side panels In of each section support a pan 28 that forms the coveror top wall of the bottom compartment in which the reserve supply ofproduce or air conditioning apparatus is located. Dove-tailing with thefront edge of the pan 28 is a suitably shaped ledge 29, to the bot-l tomof which is hinged a removable swinging door 3|]. In the left-handsection in Fig. I the swinging door 30 is shown in its uppermostposition, in which it may be held by a suitable catch. The doors 30 inthe other two sections of Fig. I are shown in their closed positions.

In front of the duct section I6 is a distribution chamber 3|, the top ofwhich is closed by an upper pan 32 similar to the lower pan 28. 'Im-'mediately below the upper pan 32 is a sheet 33, which with the pan 32forms a fiat duct for leading air forward from the distributing chamber3|. An upper ledge 34, somewhat similar to the lower edge 29, dovetailswith the front edge of the upper pan 32., To continue the lower wall ofthe hat air passage, a suitably formed strip 35 dovetails with the frontedge of the sheet 33. Closing'the flat air passage at its front end arean upper closure strip 36 and a lower closur strip 31. (See Fig. III.)

The upper closure strip is separated from the upper ledge 34 by means ofa spacer 38, to form a slot through which is discharged a sheet orcurtain of rapidly moving air. (Indicated by arrows in Fig. I.)Similarly, the lower closure strip 31 is separated from the adjacentstrip 35 to form a slot for discharging an air curtain. In theconstruction shown, most of the air tends to pass through the lowerdischarge slot, so that an adjustable plate 39 is provided for partiallyobstructing it. If the bolts supporting the adjustable plate 39 areloosened, they may be slid forward or backward in slots provided in thestrip 35 to apportion the amounts of .air discharged to form the upperand lower air curtains. The flow of air into the distributing chamber 3|can be cut off when desired by means of a slidable metering plate 40.(See Fig. II.) Guides 4| hold the metering plate 40 against the mainduct I6, and the plate can be shifted by means of a channel-shapedbracket 42, which is secured to the front of the metering plate and isprovided with a handle 43. In the operation of the device the handle 43may be positioned in either one of two notches 44. (See Fig. IV.) Thedrawings show the metering plate in its right-hand position, so that theorifices in the metering plate are in registry with the correspondingorifices in the wall of the duct section Hi. When the metering plate isin its left-hand position, the fiow of air into the distribution chamber3| is shut off.

.As shown in Fig. I, the sheet 33 forms the top of the lower displaycompartment and a cover plate 45 forms the top of the displaycompartment. Electric light fixtures may be provided beneath the sheet33 and the cover plate 45 at points near the front where they areconcealed.

Products in the upper and lower display compartments are supported uponperforated plates 46, the front edges of which rest upon the upper ledge34 and the lower ledge 29. At their rear edges the perforated plates 46are supported by hooks 41 (see Fig. III) which are provided at variouslevels so that the perforated plates can be supported at any desiredangle. Conditioned air is supplied to the display compartments throughsuitable orifices 48 in the duct section I6, and the conditioned airflows upward through each perforated plate 46 and through the bed ofproducts resting upon the plate.

The air curtain that is discharged in front of the upper displaycompartment overcomes eddies and drafts that might cause atmospheric airto enter the compartment, and thus inhibits dilution of the conditionedair in the compartment by atmospheric air. The sheet of moving airforming the curtain is narrowest near the point of discharge, becausethe curtain tends to become wider and wideras additional air isentrained. In fact the curtain consists not of air moving in a singledirection but of air moving with considerable turbulence.

Since the air curtain is directed across the open front of thecompartment, it entrains air I from the compartment on one side and airfrom the atmosphere onthey other side. The air curtain' in front of theupper compartment is so directed that it does not enter the compartment,and there is a continuous loss of air from the upper displaycompartment, caused by the entraining action of the air curtain. If thisloss of air occurs at a rate substantially greater than the rate atwhich conditioned air is supplied to the compartment, there may be atendency for atmospheric air to flow into the compartment; therefore,conditioned air should be supplied to the compartment at a 'ratesubstantially as great as the loss of air from the compartment caused bythe curtain of air.

Since the curtain does not enter the upper compartment, the temperatureor humidity of the air forming the curtain might not appear material.However, cool conditioned air is' discharged to form this curtain inorder that the fiat passage which supplies the air for the curtain, likethe bottom or basket cc mpartment, may serve as a chamber for holding abody of cool air beneath the display compartment floor.

The aircurtain that protects the front of the lower display compartmentis discharged in a different manner from the upper air curtain.'

Secured to the lower closure strip 31, by means of bolts 49, is adeflecting strip 50 for directing the lower air curtain slightly inward.The purpose of the deflecting strip is to make the lower displaycompartment suitable for products that require a slightly lowerrelative-humidity than the products in the upper display compartment. Areduction of the relative humidity in the lower display compartment iscaused by 'the'entrainment of atmospheric air in the air curtain. Sincethe lower air curtain is directly slightly inward, a portion of thecurtain, carrying entrained atmospheric air with it, is discharged intothe lower display compartment. Thus the deflecting strips 50 serve asconvenient attachments for introducing some atmospheric air intoselected display compartments along with the conditioned 'air.

It is much more convenient to provide the deflecting strips than toprovide a separate supply of less humid air. Moreover, the amount ofatmospheric airthat is introduced to dilute the conditioned air in acompartment can ,be controlled much more effectively by using adeflecting strip than by simply cutting down the amount of conditionedair supplied to the compartment.

If the amount of air used. to condition 'a display compartment is cutdown for example by shutting off the air curtain; the entry ofatmospheric air into the compartment depends solely upon the randomcurrents of the air in the'room.

The deflecting strip can be adjusted to regu-' of a grocery store orproduce market.

As shown in Fig. I, the conditioned air is supplied to the middle ductsection I6 by thesupply duct 7. The air that is forced through the airconditioning apparatus by the blower 8 is withdrawn from the atmospherethroughlouvers 5|. The pans 28 and 32 that form the floors of thedisplay-compartments have upturned rear and side edges 52 compressingrubber gaskets 53 against the duct section l6 and the side panels H!(see Fig. III). Thus the display compartments are watertight at thebottom and are easy to flush out and clean. An upper drain'spout 54receives water from the upper pan 32 and leads it into the lower pan 28.Water from the lower pan is led into the drain trough 20 through a lowerdrain spout 55, the inlet of which is protected by a drain guard 56.

Each of the display compartments is divided into two parts by. means ofa partition 51. The rear wall [2 behind the display compartments and themain duct I6 is covered with insulation 58. The apparatus may befinished in porcelain enamel or any other suitable resistant finish.

The apparatus shown in the drawings is designed to operate at only 1020F. below the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere. For lowertemperatures, additional insulation may be employed underneath the coverplate 45 and underneath the bottom plate ll. When the apparatus is usedto display fruit and vegetables the cool air should have a relativehumidity of .to per cent. From to 250 cubic feet of the air per hourshould be forced upward through each square foot of the perforatedplates 46. The air curtains are preferably made up of a. discharge ofair at about 600 cubic feet per hour per foot of length of, thecurtains, flowing at a discharge velocity of about 15 feet per second. Afew feet from the discharge slots the velocity of the air is less thanat the point of discharge, but is still currents in the room, which flowat velocities up to 5 feet per second.

When the products in the compartments are not being displayed tocustomers a cloth may be thrown over the apparatus to close the displaycompartments. While the compartments are so covered the metering plate40 may be shifted to its left-hand position to shut off the aircurtains.

It should be noted that the display compartments need not be open at thefront. If desired, the compartments may be closed in front. by slidableglass partitions. If the display compartments are of the closed type, anoutlet should be provided forv discharging into the atmosphere, orrecirculating back to the air conditioning apparatus, the air that isdisplaced from the display compartments by the entering conditioned air.

The construction illustrated in the drawings may be modified and variousembodiments of the invention may be devised to meetvarious requirements.

Having. described my invention, I claim:

I. A display counter comprising, in combina- 'tion, a displaycompartment having a foraminous false bottom, a distribution passage forsupplying conditioned air, communicating with the space immediatelybelow said false bottom, and a duct extending below said folse bottom,having. a top wall that forms the floor of said display compartment, forconducting conditioned air from said passage and-discharging it to forma protective curtain that shields said display compartment from theatmosphere.

2. A display counter comprising, in combina-.- tion, two superimposeddisplay compartments, the upper of which has a foraminous false bottom,a distribution passage for supplying conditioned air, communicating withthe space immeair entrained by the discharged air is carried into 6 thelower compartment.

KEI'I'H- W.

